Among the most highly anticipated plans for President Donald Trump’s second term in the White House is the creation of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
The task force is being helmed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, but many others on the right are supporting the cause in their own ways.
For example, The Hill recently reported that Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is drafting some complementary legislation:
“Senator Blackburn is planning to introduce a package of bills – known as the DOGE Acts – aimed at holding the federal government more accountable for managing taxpayer dollars next week,” Blackburn’s spokesperson said in a statement. “The DOGE Acts coincides with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s plan to make the federal government more efficient.”
The legislation “would cut discretionary spending, move federal agencies out of the swamp, freeze federal hiring and salaries for one year, begin the process of a merit-based compensation structure for federal employees, and require agencies to get employees back in the office,” according to the statement.
The bills in the package would create a commission centered on the relocation away from D.C. of some federal agencies; cause a yearlong pause in federal hiring and salaries; and make the federal government have a pilot program in which civilian employees would be compensated in relation to their merit.
The DOGE concept in general has fueled a flurry of social media speculation in recent weeks:
This
I am for less government messing in our lives
How about you? #RIPPeanut #DOGE pic.twitter.com/XFneh59pQN
— 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕷𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖘
(@CL4WS_OUT) December 6, 2024
Here’s an easy one for @DOGE !
ELIMINATE foreign aid! It’s taking money from the poor and middle class in the US and giving it to the rich in poor countries – with a cut to the facilitators in between! Americans don’t want their government to borrow more money to spend on… pic.twitter.com/hbjfUNGWGW— Ron Paul (@RonPaul) December 6, 2024
BREAKING: Like DOGE, Speaker Mike Johnson plans to defund Planned Parenthood, which receives millions in federal tax dollars and kills around 1,500 to 3,000 babies per day.
Good.
No American should be funding them. pic.twitter.com/I0SX65UOlw
— Anna Lulis (@annamlulis) December 5, 2024
Why the hell do the US taxpayers pay $15 million a year for Fauci to have personal security?
DOGE, please do something about this.
— Jack (@jackunheard) December 7, 2024
No one on the government payroll should be on the DOGE…
Certainly not congressmen, they had their chance to make cuts and NEVER did. pic.twitter.com/PcXevl2nDM— Carl Higbie (@CarlHigbie) December 6, 2024
While lawmakers like Blackburn seem to be stepping up, some on the right worry that other legislators won’t have the stomach to make the extensive cuts being proposed by DOGE.
According to Fox News:
“The problem’s in that room,” said Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., referring to other GOP lawmakers who met with Musk and Ramaswamy.
“These guys, you know, they talk real tough,” but they did not vote in ways he believed showed they were serious about cutting spending.
“You don’t see a lot of that. Now, when is that going to start? Is it going to start just because Elon and Vivek [address us]?” Burchett asked. “I just worry about us losing steam. … We’ve got to get some guts, and people have got to hold us accountable.”
Retiring Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., told Fox News “a lot of members” stood up to suggest ways to “save money” during Thursday afternoon’s brainstorming session with Republicans and the DOGE duo.
“One would think more of them would have been willing to vote, cast votes on the floor of the House in order to do those things early,” Bishop added.
Here’s some additional discussion about DOGE and its mission:
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport.
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